Tag Archives: Tiger Woods

Just like in past Ryder Cups, the scene is always rather chaotic when the matches are coming down the stretch, and we (media people) are staring at the leaderboard trying to figure out which one will clinch the winning point, so we can be there to get what we need. Sunday at Le Golf National was no different. I usually let colleagues try to work out the math because if you’ve seen on Twitter this week, it’s not my strong suit — numbers have never really been my thing. However, strange to stay, but I have some experience now and you can never go wrong with the 16th or 17th greens.

And in this week’s case, the 16th green is the safer bet because you can see the 15th green and the 18th, as well. Meanwhile, the 17th goes out the other direction, so it’s a drag and a much further walk. It was the only and best bet I made all week.

It was only fitting that Francesco Molinari clinched the point for Europe to take back the Ryder Cup. Molinari, who became the first European player to win all five matches in Ryder Cup history, beat Phil Mickelson 4&2.

The Europeans swept the Americans in Friday’s afternoon foursome matches to take a 5-3 lead after the opening day of the Ryder Cup. Team USA looked pretty good after taking three out of four points in the morning fourballs, but then they just completely tanked it in the afternoon session.

Phrases I hate hearing: There’s a lot of golf left; Can’t believe the captain paired player x and x (Bryson and Phil re: today; not that I don’t agree) together. Why did captain bench player x (Captain America Patrick Reed)? Well, that’s the problem with democracy.

I attended morning press conferences, watched the American groups tee off in their practice rounds, checked out the merchandise tent, went to more pressers, and then took a walk out to the practice areas and stumbled on the driving range, where Tiger Woods showed up shortly after.

So much good shit happening in the above photo during the huge and long standing ovation that Tiger Woods received from the away crowd when introduced by Captain Jim Furyk in the Ryder Cup opening ceremony. The smirks on the American players’ faces. Paulina in the background with the flag. Phil’s flow.

Well, after an hour of pomp and circumstance, including state-of-the-union-like speeches, the pairings for the opening fourball matches have been announced. And I liked European Tour player Eddie Pepperell’s reaction best:

Let’s not kid ourselves, there’s always quite a bit of pageantry that comes along with the Ryder Cup. Perhaps it should feel more grandiose since we are in Paris and near Versailles — hell, the player gala was at the damn palace. It’s also fashion week, which is nearly as exciting as the golf.

On the media shuttle to Le Golf National this morning, I noticed that all the dudes around me were perusing — and even zooming in — on photos of the players and their wives from last night’s festivities. Then I opened up Instagram and my feed exploded with the same shots. This is shamelessly cheap, but man, there are so many potential classic captions…

…well, kind of. Le Golf National is technically in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, but some sites are having their writers file from Paris in the byline. Close enough! It’s like 30 miles away. We’re closer to Versailles, but anyway, hello, I’m back…for the week. It feels so strange yet so familiar because apparently the only thing I’ve really missed is Tiger Woods being good again. Great news for all-around!

First things first, check out my Twitter and Insta-story (and regular IG). Please. So I don’t have to repost everything in five places. Thanks.

I’m fairly certain that headline makes zero sense, and what’s worse, it is so basic that it makes me want to seethe in a bath of self-loathing sewer water. Okay, I can’t believe I just typed those words together because I am physically cringing and cowering at the thought. But in this rare occasion, I don’t care if the headline is dumb and trite because I like it.

What a week! Rickie Fowler went absolutely nuts in the final round at Albany Golf Club, kicking off the day with seven straight birdies and posting an eight-under 28 on the front nine. Fowler cooled off a bit on the back nine, but still fired an 11-under 61, setting a new course record, tournament record, and his personal career-low score. Rickie ran away with the victory by four shots.

Tiger Woods got off to a rough start in Saturday’s third round of the Hero World Challenge, posting a four-over 40 on the front nine, but he finished strong, playing the last five holes at two-under to shoot three-over 75.

EVERYONE TAKE A DEEP BREATH — it’s going to be OK! Tiger was bound to have an “off” day; almost every player, including the eventual winner, has one round over four days that feels more like a grind. The difference is usually how the player manages to contain the damage. And the conditions were tougher, with the wind up from the previous days. In fact, the scoring average of the field was three shots higher.

Even Tiger Woods thinks punters need to chill out with their bets for him to win the 2018 Masters. Before Woods teed off at the 18-player, no-cut Hero World Challenge on Thursday, the odds for the 14-time major champion were set at 50-1 to win at Augusta National. By the time he rounded the front nine on Friday with an impressive five-under 31 at Albany in the second round, the odds for Woods to win the Masters had gone to 15-1.

No doubt Woods impressed once again in just his second competitive round in over 300 days after another long layoff due to injury. He eclipsed his performance from Thursday, posting a solid four-under 68 for a 36-hole total of seven-under. Asked to describe the day in one word, a smiling Woods said, “Successful.”